I was asked why do I do it? And my reply was simple, “It fills me with joy!”
The joy that I made it through another “growing season”, the joy of “slowing down”, the joy that I would get to shake hands and laugh with “seasonal” friends, the joy that I will get to watch the desert come to life again, the joy and excitement of hearing from a young and old person that caught a fish on a fly they tied (and the wide beaming smile of pride – I remember that feeling well)! The joy of “Opening Day” excitement, the joy of the first fish of this season, the joy of watching the first Chironomid hatch of the season! These are just a few of the things that fill with me joy and why I look forward “camping” in a gravel parking lot!
Years ago, somewhere between 25-30, I was like many of you that would rush out of work on Friday afternoon, rush to the lake/river, rush to fish and then rush home to repeat the week. I met several “old guys” in the gravel lot, and one of them “Gordon”, told me he would laugh at how we rushed through the weekend without slowing down enough to enjoy everything about the experience. He said “you boys need to slow down” and take it all in! Well, this year I “slowed down” enough to take a call from Gordon, the third week of February, and laughed at how excited he was at the joy of the coming season! I told him to “slow down” we still had to wait a few weeks and wait for the weather, and lake to unfreeze. He then called me several more time, to tell me about the weather, snow/ice, at his home and how he could hardly wait to get on the water! Again, I had to laugh! “Slow down” and enjoy the experience!
I enjoyed the weather although it was a lot colder than in years past (for longer), with more snow!
(Nope : Didn't fish that day, stayed inside then went to town - I choose my days)
I enjoyed the first of many fish to the net. The fish were healthy and became more scrappy as the water warmed and more food sources became available.
I ENJOYED having my dad (83 now) come stay with me and out fish me a couple of days. I have tried to convince him to use my wife’s walker bay but he is just so pigheaded. SO, he hung his feet in that 40 degree water for 4 days. Several people commented on seeing “a small sasquatch” running up and down the east hillside to warm up. But the happiness and excitement in him really brings me happiness.
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The joy that I made it through another “growing season”, the joy of “slowing down”, the joy that I would get to shake hands and laugh with “seasonal” friends, the joy that I will get to watch the desert come to life again, the joy and excitement of hearing from a young and old person that caught a fish on a fly they tied (and the wide beaming smile of pride – I remember that feeling well)! The joy of “Opening Day” excitement, the joy of the first fish of this season, the joy of watching the first Chironomid hatch of the season! These are just a few of the things that fill with me joy and why I look forward “camping” in a gravel parking lot!
Years ago, somewhere between 25-30, I was like many of you that would rush out of work on Friday afternoon, rush to the lake/river, rush to fish and then rush home to repeat the week. I met several “old guys” in the gravel lot, and one of them “Gordon”, told me he would laugh at how we rushed through the weekend without slowing down enough to enjoy everything about the experience. He said “you boys need to slow down” and take it all in! Well, this year I “slowed down” enough to take a call from Gordon, the third week of February, and laughed at how excited he was at the joy of the coming season! I told him to “slow down” we still had to wait a few weeks and wait for the weather, and lake to unfreeze. He then called me several more time, to tell me about the weather, snow/ice, at his home and how he could hardly wait to get on the water! Again, I had to laugh! “Slow down” and enjoy the experience!
I enjoyed the weather although it was a lot colder than in years past (for longer), with more snow!
(Nope : Didn't fish that day, stayed inside then went to town - I choose my days)
I enjoyed the first of many fish to the net. The fish were healthy and became more scrappy as the water warmed and more food sources became available.
I ENJOYED having my dad (83 now) come stay with me and out fish me a couple of days. I have tried to convince him to use my wife’s walker bay but he is just so pigheaded. SO, he hung his feet in that 40 degree water for 4 days. Several people commented on seeing “a small sasquatch” running up and down the east hillside to warm up. But the happiness and excitement in him really brings me happiness.
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